National Support School

Lincolnshire Wolds Federation Executive Headteacher chosen for key school support role

Lea Mason, our executive headteacher, and staff at Lincolnshire Wolds Federation have been selected for a top role supporting schools in challenging circumstances.

Lea is one of more than 70 headteachers to be appointed to the role of National Leader of Education (NLE) in the latest recruitment round.

NLEs along with staff in their school - designated a National Support School (NSS) - use their success and professionalism to provide additional leadership capability in other schools.

NLEs are deployed to suit the needs of each school needing support. The type of support provided is flexible and can sometimes involve NLEs becoming executive headteachers. They also have responsibility for developing the next generation of NLEs and national support schools.

Lea said: "This is a fantastic achievement for all of us across LWF, as well as the Lincolnshire Wolds Community Trust. We have always held an outward facing ethos to improve educational opportunities not only for our own staff and students but those across Lincolnshire and beyond. This recognition is testament to the dedicated staff across LWF, continually seeking to improve outcomes for all"

Lea first became a headteacher in 2009 at St Bernard’s, with an already recognised record of supporting school improvement. She was asked to support St Lawrence from 2011 and then became executive head when the 2 schools formally federated in 2012. Since that time the schools have continued to grow from strength to strength, as have the staff team in developing leadership and outcomes both within LWF and across other schools and services.

Roger Pope, Chair of the National College for Teaching and Leadership, said "It’s fantastic that heads like Lea have the passion and ambition to help improve the life chances of young people, not just in their own but in other schools as well. The aim of national leaders of education is to drive improvement in underperforming schools. We now have over 1,200 NLEs and we’re working to increase this number further to spread educational excellence everywhere."

We welcome contact with any schools wishing to engage in partnership work. Please contact lea.mason@lwf.lincs.sch.uk for further details.